West Suffolk: Appeal on track for £25k target for dementia campaign

The fundraising manager overseeing the Forget-Me-Not Dementia Campaign has been “overwhelmed” by the response so far, which has seen almost half of the £25,000 target raised in just three months.

Being run by West Suffolk Hospital in conjunction with the East Anglian Daily Times and its sister paper The Mercury, the appeal total currently stands at £10,897.

Fundraising manager Dave Gooderham said: “To raise that sort of money in three months is staggering. The appeal has obviously touched the hearts and minds of people in west Suffolk. We feel that awareness of dementia is growing and we hope we can help to challenge and change perceptions.”

Winch and Blatch department store in Sudbury has picked the Forget-Me-Not appeal as its chosen charity for the year. The Bury St Edmunds branch of Fred Olsen travel agents has also adopted the campaign as its charitable cause this year.

Money raised will go towards creating a memory walk at West Suffolk Hospital to provide a calm and comforting area for patients with dementia. It will also purchase reminiscence materials and help kit out a day room.

Staff and residents of Mellish House care home in Great Cornard have recently seen the benefit of installing new ‘reminiscence areas’.

The facility provides residential care for up to 48 elderly people living with a form of dementia. The new areas, which have been devised with input from residents, include beach huts, wash days, a traditional living room and the Mellish Train Station.

Such has been the success of the work so far, residents now have plans to redecorate two further lounge and dining areas and add even more feature walls around the home.

Mellish House manager Maekhala Allan said: “As a home committed to working closely with those living with dementia, reminiscence is an important part of daily life here at Mellish House. Everyone involved has done a fantastic job in putting these areas together.

“They not only brighten up the home, but will truly help our residents feel at home as well. They provide a wonderful place for everyone to remember precious times, share stories and make new memories.”